Norman’s Law and Glenduckie Hill

At 285m Norman’s Law is the highest point in the north of Fife. It, and it’s neighbour Glenduckie Hill, are both hill fort sites with panoramic views over the surrounding countryside. Two routes are described here: a longer one that includes both hills linked via the Fife Coastal Path and a shorter route to Glenduckie Hill on its own.

Norman’s Law and Glenduckie Hill

Distance: 12.5 km / 7.8 miles

Ascent: 500 m / 1600 feet

Glenduckie Hill

Distance: 4.7 km / 3 miles

Ascent: 200 m / 650 feet

Start / finish: Glenduckie near Lindores

Facilities: small layby on A913 for parking, other facilities in Newburgh

View from Norman’s Law

Looking back to Norman’s Law

View from Glenduckie Hill

Both routes

Start the walk from the small village of Glenduckie. It is probably easiest to park in the layby on the A913 opposite the turning for Glenduckie at grid reference NO 282 183. There is room for about 3 cars at this point.

From Glenduckie village follow the green sign for Bankside (not the Newburgh path). After passing a farm, take the right hand fork in the road ahead which leads past an old quarry.

The track now starts to go uphill through deciduous woodland. It may seem like a bit of a slog but it is only 1/2km to a point where the wide track comes to an end. From here there is a narrow path to the right which leads up the summit of the hill fort with views of the surrounding area. A bench and a stone mark the summit.

Return to the track end and look for a path on your right (roughly north) leading into the trees. The path is rather dark and gloomy for a while as it takes you through dense spruce trees. If you want to include the summit of Glenduckie Hill this will require a rough, steep detour to your right to reach its pine clad top. Return to the path and continue to follow it round to the right as it starts to circle the hill.

When you see a more open area to your left, head toward the gap in the wall and then turn right so that you have the wall to your right and some young trees to your left. This next section of path is grassy and a bit rough in places but is a lot lighter than the previous one. Norman’s Law will now be visible ahead of you for a short while. Keep on the path as it leaves the fence and heads towards some larch trees to join a more obvious forest track. Go downhill on this track for about 300m to reach a Fife Coastal Path marker post where you turn right.

Follow the track through the larch trees, exiting the plantation at a large gate (there is a smaller pedestrian gate to the side). Continue on the good track through pleasant open woodland following the Fife Coastal Path signs at junctions. There is a bench seat along the route with a lovely view across a pond which makes a good lunch / tea stop. Soon after leaving the woodlands, you reach an obvious junction with a signpost for the Fife Coastal Path.

If doing the full route including Norman’s Law, turn left at the signpost. If you are doing the shorter route, turn right.

Norman’s Law

The route continues on the Fife Coastal Path which we will now follow for the next 2.5 km. Initially the route is across some open farmland but later returns to woodland. Pass a row of cottages at Glascairn and then turn left at the next signpost, still on the coastal path. We will return to this same same post later in the walk.

Go uphill on the track still following coastal path signs and through a gate into Ayton Woodlands. At grid ref NO 302 200 you will reach a wooden marker post on your right hand side. Just before this post turn right, off the main track on to a lesser frequented track through the trees. After less than 100m you reach a wooden bar gate (visible from the main track) which you can either climb over or squeeze through to reach the open hillside beyond.

Turn left, negotiating a fallen tree to follow a grassy path uphill alongside the forest fence. When the forest comes to an end, a path strikes off to the right up the hill to reach the summit of Norman’s Law. The summit is triple crowned with a trig point, cairn, and viewpoint indicator. Again this is the site of a hillfort and it is easy to see why when you look around you.

Descend to the east on an obvious, and sometimes eroded, path across the grassy hillside. This side of the hill is more frequented than the side you ascended by. Turn right when the path joins a track and continue downhill across farmland. Pass through a gate into a field where livestock may be present. When the grassy track reaches a fence and starts to get a bit wet underfoot it is time to follow it to the left, downhill across the field to reach a wooden pedestrian gate. Go through the gate and cross the next field on a grassy track to reach another pedestrian gate into a further field. Follow the grass path downhill with the fence to your right until the path becomes a more obvious track. Sheep and / or cattle may be present in these fields.

The track bears left to reach a core path purple arrow marker and a gate. Turn sharp right after the gate and head towards Denmuir on a good track. Turn left after passing the farm, still on a good track, towards Ayton. When you reach the buildings at Ayton, turn right to go slightly uphill and into a more wooded area. There are few scattered houses around now. Soon you will reach the signpost for the Fife Coastal Path you passed earlier. Go straight on (the route of the coastal path) so that you are retracing your earlier steps. You will again pass the cottages at Glascairn and reach the next signpost where again, you want to go straight on. You have now rejoined the route from Glenduckie Hill.

Both Routes

From the signpost a good track heads across country for about 1km to reach a barn and a junction with a purple core path arrow marker. Ignore the turning to the left and continue straight on past the farm heading towards Glenduckie village. After the village, turn left to walk back down the quiet road to reach the main road and the layby.

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Information provided on this website was correct to the best of the author’s knowledge at the time of publication. When deciding whether or not to walk a route the information provided should only be considered as a guide. You walks the routes at your own risk and should assess current hazards for yourself. Some walks are off path and may require navigation skills and some walks are in remote areas away from civilisation. You should ensure that you are properly equipped for the walk you undertake especially if doing higher level routes. Whilst we do have a right of responsible access in Scotland, in practise access issues can occasionally still be encountered.